News

CWA Members Fight Proposed Layoffs at AT&T

January 4, 2018

CWA members from across the country are taking action to stop AT&T's proposed layoffs, which were announced just before Christmas.

In District 6, CWA has filed a lawsuit and National Labor Relations Board charges asserting that the company is violating the AT&T Southwest collective bargaining agreement by laying off workers while at the same time using contract employees to do work that CWA members are trained and qualified to perform.

Affected districts have also filed executive grievances to challenge the layoffs and members are mobilizing to protest the cuts. In an interview with the Indianapolis Star, Local 4900 Vice President Larry Robbins noted that the company is targeting workers based on attendance and performance instead of offering buyouts or laying off workers with the least seniority. The company has revised the layoff list several times, causing additional stress for families who may be facing job cuts.

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson has been one of the strongest supporters of the recently-passed tax plan, promising to use the massive corporate tax cuts for investments that would create thousands of middle class jobs. By pushing forward with layoffs while continuing to subcontract work and send jobs overseas, AT&T is breaking its promise to American workers.

Members of CWA Local 6137 in Corpus Christi, Tex., above, and Local 6222 in Houston, wear black in solidarity with AT&T workers throughout the district.